Erlkönig: Heartssong II

There is also an annotated version

Heartssong

I sing the strands of mine own accord,
Blown soft by the love of the winds.
Even dragons on high leave my lay unscored;
My heart's song is mine, not Danaan's.

1. "Elven eyes in the first breath of Fall;
   Green ramparts surround the mind's eye,
   Searching the winds, fast-fleeting and love-lorn,
   For a fair zephyr's singing on high.
2. A fair, virgin wind sought the heart of the Eald,
   Tender and aware behind cold eldrich wards,
   A fey, noble melody maid-ensorcelled
   Willingly by wind-whispered words.
3. A muse-born breeze and a dragon, young dreamer,
   Made love in the light of a far day's sun,
   Sailing through moon's light, fair fantasies' weaver--
   Their melding of souls just begun.
4. The year's come full circle; the weaving goes onward
   Into the birth of a rose-fingered dawn.
   Laughing together they lift their hopes skyward,
   For the wind and the sea will love on. _{(1985 text jumps to Epilogue)}
5. Years fair have flown, a noble young triad; ^{(1988 continuation starts here)}
   Passion spun of moonlight, friendship by day.
   But time takes the Lovers' moon; the wind seeks light elsewhere,
   And the sea wakes, a black sun in sway.
6. A breeze seeks the gardens, bright in the moonlight.
   Wonder of the new sings refrain.
   A far away Eald under elven moon waxing,
   Has small hope with mortal moon yet to wane.
7. A feary path glistens, silver in moonlight,
   Do they fade forever, one dawn ?
   What of the last golden, that gleams in the sunlight,
   Can it survive, when the winds have passed on ?"

Th'elementals sing of their lives and their hearts;
I harp of the sword and the dove.
For others the tales of jewels and shards;
I give my heart's song to my love.